The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-02-10
AIMS IN LIFE.
Strive for Something Worthy Follower Of
Christ in the Mastery of Self and In
huencinR of Others.

Christ in the Mastery of Self and In
fiuencing Of Others.
One of the things first to impress
thoughtful person on coming into any
thing like an intimate acquaintance
with considerable number of Chris
tian men and women, is the compare
lively few who are really dominated by
high aims touching the attainments
they would like to make, and feel they
ought to make, in the knowledge of the
Son of God, and in likeness to His holy
character. 1t is fact to be greatly de-
plored, indeed, that so many people in
all the spheres of life are SO little
moved by lofty purposes, and are SO
little responsive to the inspiration of
the noblest ideas. Large masses of men
just drift, and are content to drift.
But this ought not to be true of one
who has confessed his faith in Christ,
and who has brought his soul under
vows of loyalty to his Divine Lord.
There should be a definite and resolute
determination to achieve some end, to
reach some goal. An artist who would
succeed in his art must fashion to his
mind some worthy conception Of what
it is possible for him to do, and then
bend every energy to the realization Of
his high dream. So of scholar, poet,
scientist, mechanic, professional man,
business man, statesman. Men some-
times have temporary honors thrust
upon them which are out of all proper
ton to their real deserts; but genuine
success, wide knowledge, characters
round and full, do not come in this
way. They have to be aimed at and
wrought for with fidelity of applica-
ton and a tenacity of cndeavor which
will listen to no suggestion of abate-
ment. These are the conditions of get
ting on. -,-
How many are the Christian lives in
to which no corresponding thought ever
seems to enter. This lack is not of sin
cerity. There is no disposition to pro-
fess one thing and to be another. The
lack is of an aim worthy of the faith Of
Jesus Christ, and consequently Of a
moral earnestness to set the soul on fire
and drive it on. There is an absence of
the clear seeing which guided the Apos-
tie, and the enthusiastic resolve which
stirred and ruled his whole being when
he cried: II press on toward the goal,
unto the prize of the high calling of God
in Christ Jesus"
There are three particulars or spheres
Of the Christian life in which one should
have very distinct aims: The first con.
Germs positive and we'll articulated
knowledge of Christ-such q knOwl.
edge as comes partly through dill.
gent study Of the story of Jesus on
earth, and partly through the expert.
ence of His love in the heart. and in
virtue of which one has spiritual re.
sources personal to himself, and insight
into the truth, and firm standing in con.
viction, and blessed fellowship with the
Father. r
Now how many, on entering in any
pronounced way upon the new life, lay
it down as definite proposition tha
they ought to know all they can abou1
Christ, and then announce it to them
selves as an aim from which there is Il
be no swerving, that they will know al
they can about Christi How many ar'
bringing all the force of reason ant
conscience and will to bear on TIN
realizing of this aimp To come int
this knowledge means the systemati'
and conscientious study of the Bible
Old Testament and New. Itmeans tn
reading Of good books. 1t means med
itation and prayer. 1t means familia
intercourse with we'll instructed an'
devout souls. II means openness to al
good influences. II means not spasn
Of effort. but steady endeavor LOOKING
70 this one end Of knowing Christ, an
knowing Him more and more in tn
wealth and sweetpsss Of His Divine full
ness. r, ~ -
The second particular or sphere !
| which there should be very distins
aim, concerns the mastery OF ones 90
ily-besetting sins, and the correction
one's fsults-largs and small. TO .
! ! sppssranees 9 great many people ney'